Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Premise: A dramatized portrait of Ugandan dictator
Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker) as seen through the eyes of his personal physician
(James McAvoy).
What Works: The Last King of Scotland is a
great example of dramatizing history concisely and appropriately to create a
character study of an individual and the times in which he lives. Forrest
Whitaker’s performance as Amin is comparable to Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Capote,
Bruno Ganz in Downfall,
or George C. Scott in Patton,
in that the actor disappears in the role and truly embodies this character.
Whitaker captures Amin’s charisma and madness in a performance that is
carefully structured and executed like a master chess player, making each move
count and gradually moving toward an endgame that is fascinating to observe.
Like Downfall or Patton, The Last King of Scotland takes a
legendary figure and finds ways of humanizing the myth but also placing them in
a narrative that allows for an understanding of who this person is, why they are
important, and what role environment played forming their character. James
McAvoy also gives a great performance as Amin’s fictionalized personal
physician. In the shadow of Whitaker’s role, McAvoy is easy to overlook, but
he has to pull off some very difficult scenes and the dramatic structure of the
film rests on his shoulders, but he pulls it off. McAvoy conveys the naiveté of
someone caught up in the promises of a revolution and his gradual realization of
the truth is as carefully staged as the revelation of Amin’s madness.
What Doesn’t: There is a subplot in the opening
of the film involving McAvoy’s character and a near affair with a married
female doctor (Gillian Anderson). The subplot establishes some character
trait’s of McAvoy’s character that pay off later, but as a whole the
relationship with Anderson’s character does not return to the story.
DVD extras: Commentary track, deleted scenes,
documentary on Idi Amin, featurettes, trailer.
Bottom Line: The Last
King of Scotland is an important film featuring a great performance. The
film is a lesson in how monstrous people may take power and the charismatic
nature of many of these kinds of leaders. It is also a lesson in how and why
many parts of Africa are as chaotic as they are today and the film illustrates
the fallout of imperialist and colonial rule.